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4 Arrested In Crackdown On San Mateo Auto Burglaries

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SAN MATEO (CBS SF) — Police in San Mateo cracked down on auto burglars over the weekend and arrested four suspects connected to several recent vehicle break-ins.

At around 7:40 a.m. on Sunday, a witness reported seeing a man smash a car window near East Santa Inez Avenue and North Amphlett Boulevard, according to San Mateo police.

Responding officers canvassed the area and detained Jose Garcia-Diaz, 22, a San Mateo area transient.

Garcia-Diaz was allegedly in possession of a tool used to smash car windows and suspected stolen property, police said.

The property was connected to two recent window-smash auto burglaries, and Garcia-Diaz was arrested for vehicle burglary, possession of burglary tools, and committing a felony while out on bail, police said.

At around 1:40 a.m. on Monday, several residents near the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center reported seeing suspects with flashlights looking into vehicles, police said.

Police responded and detained three juveniles, one 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds.

All three suspects, who appeared to be intoxicated and belligerent, were found in possession of stolen property that connected them to several burglaries in the immediate area, police said.

They were arrested and booked into juvenile hall for conspiracy, possession of stolen property, burglary and resisting arrest.

Police reminded residents that it is important to remove all valuables from vehicles when parked and to make sure vehicles remain locked at all times, even when parked at home. The majority of vehicle burglaries occur when vehicles are left unlocked or items are left in plain view, police said.